TV Licence — Who's Exempt, How to Cancel, and Do You Need One?
Complete guide to the UK TV licence. Who needs one, who's exempt, how to cancel, how to get a refund, and the rules for streaming services like Netflix and iPlayer.
·6 min read
The TV licence costs £169.50 per year (2026/27) and funds BBC television, radio, and online services. Whether you actually need one depends on how you watch — not what device you use.
Do You Need a TV Licence?
Activity
Licence needed?
Watching any live TV on any channel (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, etc.)
Yes
Watching or downloading anything on BBC iPlayer (live or on-demand)
Yes
Watching live TV on a phone, tablet, laptop, or streaming stick
Yes
Watching on-demand only on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, YouTube
No
Listening to BBC radio (live or on-demand)
No
Listening to podcasts
No
Watching YouTube videos (not live broadcasts)
No
Watching DVDs or Blu-rays
No
Playing games on a TV or monitor
No
The key rule: You need a licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel or platform, or use BBC iPlayer for anything. The device and location do not matter — a phone in a park still counts.
TV Licence Cost 2026/27
Licence type
Cost
Colour TV licence
£169.50 per year
Black and white TV licence
£57.00 per year
Over-75 (receiving Pension Credit)
Free
Blind / severely sight impaired
50% discount (£84.75)
AMP accommodation (care homes)
£7.50 per room
Payment Options
Method
Details
Annual lump sum
£169.50 — pay once per year
Quarterly direct debit
£42.38 per quarter
Monthly direct debit
£14.13 per month (£169.50/year)
Weekly cash/savings stamps
From £3.27/week at PayPoint outlets
Who Is Exempt?
Free TV Licence — Over 75 on Pension Credit
Requirement
Detail
Age
75 or over
Benefit
Must be receiving Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit)
Household
Only one person in the household needs to qualify
How to claim
Apply at tvlicensing.co.uk/age or call 0300 790 6165
Renewal
Must be renewed annually — not automatic
Before June 2020, all over-75s received a free licence. Since then, only those receiving Pension Credit qualify. If your partner is 75+ and receives Pension Credit, the whole household is covered.
Must be registered blind or severely sight impaired with your local council
Discount
50% — currently £84.75 for colour
How to apply
Call 0300 790 6165 with your registration certificate
Students
Situation
Licence needed?
Student in halls — watches only on a battery-powered, unplugged device
Covered by parents’ licence
Student in halls — device plugged into mains
Needs own licence
Student in shared house
One licence covers the whole address
Student who doesn’t watch live TV or iPlayer
No licence needed — make a declaration
Care Homes and Sheltered Housing
Type
Cost
AMP accommodation (residential care)
£7.50 per room per year
Sheltered housing (self-contained units)
Full licence per unit
How to Cancel Your TV Licence
Step-by-Step
Step
Action
1
Go to tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0300 790 6165
2
Tell them you no longer need a licence
3
Complete a No Licence Needed declaration
4
If you paid annually, request a refund for remaining complete months
5
If you pay by direct debit, TV Licensing will cancel it — do not cancel the DD yourself first
Refund Rules
Payment method
Refund
Annual payment
Refund for complete months remaining
Direct debit (monthly/quarterly)
Payments stop — any overpayment refunded
Savings stamps
Any unused credit refunded
Processing time
Usually 3–4 weeks by cheque or bank transfer
Important: Cancel the licence through TV Licensing first, then the direct debit will stop automatically. If you cancel the direct debit without cancelling the licence, you may receive missed payment notices and enforcement letters.
Making a No Licence Needed Declaration
Even if you do not need a licence, it is worth making a declaration at tvlicensing.co.uk. This means:
TV Licensing updates their records and removes your address from enforcement visits
The declaration lasts 2 years, after which you may be contacted to confirm your status
It is free and takes about 2 minutes
You are not admitting to anything — you are simply stating you don’t need one
Enforcement — Your Rights
Situation
Your rights
Enforcement officer visits
You do not have to open the door, let them in, or speak to them
They ask to come in
You can refuse — they have no automatic right of entry
Search warrant
They can only enter with a warrant from a magistrate — rare
Detection vans
TV Licensing can apply for a warrant based on other evidence (no licence on record, database checks)
Letters
You may receive letters — these are often computer-generated and you can ignore them if you have made a declaration
Fine
Maximum fine for watching without a licence: £1,000 plus legal costs
If You Receive Threatening Letters
TV Licensing sends automated letters to addresses without a licence on record. If you have made a declaration and do not need a licence:
You can ignore further letters
You do not need to respond unless your circumstances change
Make a new declaration every 2 years to keep your records up to date
Streaming Services — Do You Need a Licence?
Service
Live TV?
Licence needed?
BBC iPlayer (live or on-demand)
Yes
Yes — always
ITV Hub / ITVX (live broadcast)
Yes
Yes
ITVX (on-demand catch-up only)
No
No
Channel 4 (live broadcast)
Yes
Yes
Channel 4 (on-demand only)
No
No
Sky Go / Now TV (live channels)
Yes
Yes
Sky Go / Now TV (on-demand only)
No
No
Netflix
No
No
Disney+
No
No
Amazon Prime Video
No
No
YouTube (videos)
No
No
YouTube (live broadcasts)
Yes
Yes
Apple TV+
No
No
BBC iPlayer is the exception — you need a licence for iPlayer whether you watch live or on-demand. All other services only require a licence when you watch live broadcasts.
Common Scenarios
Scenario
Need a licence?
I only use Netflix and YouTube on my smart TV
No
I watch live football on Sky Go on my phone
Yes
I watch BBC dramas on iPlayer catch-up
Yes
I have a TV but only use it for gaming
No
I listen to BBC Radio on my smart speaker
No
My elderly parent is 75+ on Pension Credit
Free licence
I’m a student in halls using my laptop unplugged
Covered by parents’ licence
I live in shared house — one housemate watches live TV
One licence covers the address
Business Premises
Situation
Licence details
Office with a TV in reception
One licence covers the premises
Staff watching on personal devices during breaks
Covered by the business licence if on premises
Hotel rooms
One licence per premises (not per room) for staff areas; concessionary rates available for guest rooms
Shop displaying TVs for sale
Exempt — but only if showing pre-recorded content or test pictures